Sofia can compete with the Greek Athens for the right to be considered the most ancient capital of Europe. The city has preserved many evidences of its rich history: the ruins of a Roman amphitheater, churches from the period of the Byzantine Empire and a mosque erected during the Ottoman rule.
The capital of Bulgaria also boasts numerous monuments from the modern era. Among them - the magnificent temple of Alexander Nevsky, the graceful Sofia synagogue, the Russian Church of St. Nicholas and other no less remarkable buildings.
Today, the interest of tourists in Sofia is growing steadily. A few days spent in this dynamic and interesting city will definitely remain in the treasury of impressions of every keen traveler.
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What to see and where to go in Sofia?
The most beautiful places and main attractions
Temple-monument of Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, located on the square of the same name. The grandiose building of the cathedral, which stands out brightly against the background of the city landscape, was erected at the beginning of the 20th century by the project of the Russian architect A. Pomerantsev. The reason was the liberation of Bulgaria from the rule of the Ottoman Empire following the results of the Russian-Turkish war. The temple was built in the neo-Byzantine style.
Rotunda of St. George
The oldest church in Sofia. It was erected in the 4th century under the Emperor Constantine. Initially, the temple was used as a baptistery. After the conquest of Bulgaria by the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century, the building was turned into a mosque. During the restoration work, several layers of frescoes were discovered on the inner walls of the church, the earliest of which date back to the 10th century. Nowadays, the temple houses a museum, as well as regular services.
Amphitheater Serdica
Roman amphitheater of the 3rd-4th centuries, which at one time was considered the largest arena of the Eastern Roman Empire. Its area is slightly smaller than the famous Colosseum. The ruins were discovered by accident during the construction of the hotel in 2004. But, despite the undeniable value of the discovery, the hotel was still erected, and research on the amphitheater was stopped due to lack of funds. Today the ruins are accessible to the public.
Saint Sophie Cathedral
The basilica dedicated to St. Sophia dates back to the 6th century. She survived fires, earthquakes, wars and has survived to this day in an almost destroyed state. Restoration work was carried out at the beginning of the 20th century, at the same time scientists discovered ancient burials on its walls. The modern appearance of the cathedral is the result of careful restoration. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located on the territory of the temple.
Boyana Church
8 km from Sofia in the small village of Boyana there is a church of the X-XI centuries. The structure was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. In the 13th and 19th centuries, two additional limits were added to the church. The building is made of bricks and stones. Inside, valuable frescoes from the 11th-16th centuries and paintings from the 19th century have been preserved. The temple has survived to this day in almost perfect condition, having managed to avoid destruction during the wars.
Russian Church of St. Nicholas
The church was erected for the needs of the Russian community, whose number in Sofia increased significantly after the end of the Russian-Turkish war in 1878. The temple was built at the beginning of the 20th century on the site of a destroyed market mosque. Church domes were presented to the parish by the Russian Emperor Nicholas II. The building was built in the eclectic pseudo-Russian style according to the project of M. Preobrazhensky.
Cathedral of Holy Week
Holy Week is the middle name of the martyr Kyriakia of Nicomedia. It is believed that the very first church in her honor was built in the 10th century. It was a building on a stone foundation with wooden walls. The church received the status of a cathedral in the 18th century after the remains of King Stephen II were transported here. A modern temple on the site of a dilapidated one was built in 1863.
Sofia synagogue
The Jewish Temple is one of the most picturesque architectural structures in Sofia. It was erected for the community of Sephardic Jews by the architect F. Grünager at the beginning of the 20th century. The architectural style of the building is a mixture of Moorish traditions and Viennese Art Nouveau. You won't be able to enter the synagogue just like that, but there is an opportunity to visit a small museum dedicated to the history of Bulgarian Jews.
Archaeological Institute and Museum
Research institution founded in 1948. The Archaeological Museum has existed since 1892 and is the oldest in Bulgaria. It possesses the richest collection of ancient artifacts in the Balkans. The exposition is located in the building of the former 15th century mosque Buyuk-Jamiya. The research institute belongs to the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and employs several dozen scientists.
Historical Museum of Bulgaria
The museum was founded in 1973. In 2000, the collection moved to a modern building. The exposition contains more than 650 thousand items and artifacts from different eras. It is divided into historical, ethnographic and archaeological parts. Visitors can view collections of jewelry, weapons, coins, furniture, religious utensils and household items. The medieval Boyana Church is also part of the Historical Museum.
Natural History Museum
The Museum of Natural History of Sofia presents the largest exposition of stuffed animals, insects, birds, as well as samples of minerals in the Balkans. The collection was founded in 1889 with the assistance of Prince Ferdinand. The scientific activities of the museum staff are aimed at studying and preserving the flora and fauna of Bulgaria. Much is being done within the framework of programs to improve the ecology and environmental protection.
Museum of Socialist Art
The exposition consists of works of art created in the period from 1944 to 1989, when the era of socialism began in Bulgaria. The museum complex includes an art gallery, a park with monumental sculptures in the style of socialist realism and a video room where viewers can watch documentaries. The museum was founded in 2011 by decree of the ruling coalition of Bulgaria - the Union of Democratic Forces.
Museum of military history
The museum is located on the territory of the military academy and belongs to the Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria. Part of its exposition, consisting of military equipment, is located in the open air, the other is located in the premises. A fairly large part of the collection consists of Soviet vehicles; there are also several Czech, German and French tanks. The museum has a thematic library and a computer center.
Art Gallery of Bulgaria
The exhibition hall appeared in 1948. Today his collection includes several thousand items. The exposition consists of three parts: Christian art of the 18th-19th centuries, national Bulgarian art and art of the Middle Ages. The museum has several branches. One of them is located on the territory of the Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church. The main department is located in the former royal palace.
Gallery of Foreign Art
The gallery was opened in 1985 in the building of the former printing house, which was erected at the end of the 19th century by the project of the Viennese master F. Schwanberg. The extensive collection of the museum occupies 19 exhibition halls and contains more than 10 thousand items. There are paintings by Picasso, Renoir, Rembrandt, Goya and Dali, which used to decorate the walls of the National Art Gallery, and then were donated.
National Palace of Culture
The building was built in 1981 at the initiative of the daughter of the General Secretary of the CPB Lyudmila Zhivkova. The complex consists of 8 floors and several dozen halls. It is designed for exhibitions, congresses, concerts and other cultural events. The interior of the building is lavishly decorated with mosaics, paintings and sculptures. A picturesque park with fountains and canals is laid out around the palace.
Theater named after Ivan Vazov
The main theater in Bulgaria was built in 1906. The building was badly damaged during the Second World War, but after the restoration of 1945, it again began to delight the residents of the capital with its festive appearance. The stage repertoire consists of works by renowned world authors. There are a lot of plays by Bulgarian writers in the schedule. The theater was named after the outstanding poet, true "patriarch" of national literature I. Vazov.
Bulgarian National Opera and Ballet Theater
The first opera troupe appeared in Sofia in 1980, however, due to lack of funding, it did not last long. The scene was revived in 1908 after several successful premieres. In 1922, the theater was given national status. The first ballet performance took place on its stage in 1928. The theater's repertoire consists of classical works by European and Russian composers.
Sofia University
The university is named after one of the founders of Slavic writing, St. Clement of Ohrid. This educational institution is considered the most prestigious in the country. It is located in a 1934 Renaissance building. A. Breanson worked on the initial project, later the architect J. Milanov made his own changes to the plan, adding elements of expressive baroque and eclecticism to it.
Parliament building of Bulgaria
The main legislative body of Bulgaria sits in a picturesque building built in 1886, which is listed as an architectural monument. It was built in the neo-Renaissance style according to the project of K. Jovanovitch. In 1890 and 1928, additional rooms and a central entrance with columns were added to the building. The palace is located in the very center of Sofia on the People's Assembly Square.
Statue of Hagia Sophia
The monument adorned the capital of Bulgaria in 2000. The sculpture was erected on the site of the demolished monument to V.I.Lenin. Saint Sophia by sculptor Georgy Chapkynov symbolizes wisdom and God's grace. She seems to be stretching her arms over the city. In its features, one can guess the appearance of the ancient Greek goddess Athena. The statue reaches a height of 8 meters. The five-ton sculpture stands on a 12-meter pedestal.
Monument to the Tsar Liberator
In the very center of Sofia, there is an impressive monument to the Russian Emperor Alexander II. Bulgarians highly value the contribution of the Russian tsar to the liberation of their country from Ottoman rule. The monument was erected at the beginning of the 20th century. The opening of the monument took place in the presence of Tsar Ferdinand I and Grand Duke Vladimir, the son of Alexander II. The figure of the emperor sitting on a horse is made of bronze and mounted on a granite pedestal.
Borisov Gradina Park
A picturesque city park in the center of Sofia, which residents call "Boris's Garden". It was created at the end of the 19th century on the initiative of a Swiss gardener. By 1924, the park's territory had almost doubled, fountains, rose gardens, a pond and a Japanese garden appeared. An observatory was built here in the middle of the 20th century. Today this green oasis is visited with pleasure by tourists and residents of the capital.
Boyansky waterfall
Boyansky waterfall is located on the slopes of the Vitosha mountain range. In clear weather it can even be seen from the center of Sofia. Jets of water rush down from a height of 15 meters and break on stones in thousands of splashes. The stream becomes especially full-flowing after the snow melts, when the water level in the river feeding the threshold reaches its maximum level. The waterfall can be reached via several walking trails.
Mountain range Vitosha
The mountain range in the vicinity of Sofia, stretching 19 km in length. On its territory there is a national park of the same name. The highest peak of Vitosha is Mount Cherni-Vrah (over 2200 meters). The first climbers climbed the Vitosha peaks at the end of the 19th century. Today it houses a popular ski resort with a total length of trails of about 30 km.
